MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A Vermont environmental organization is planning to remove four dams in the Montpelier area to reduce flood risk and encourage river recreation.<\/p>\n
The Pioneer Street Dam in Montpelier has been around since the 1870s and has largely remained the same since. But that could soon change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we think about dams that are being removed in Vermont, we\u2019re not talking about the hydrodams that are actively providing electricity to people, and we\u2019re not talking about the really big flood control dams. We\u2019re really talking about the historic structures,\u201d said Remy Crettol of the Vermont River Conservancy.<\/p>\n
The Vermont River Conservancy examined the history of the four dams and found that though there was some historical significance, it wasn\u2019t enough to outweigh safety concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see behind us here, these wooden structures kind of coming out perpendicular, that\u2019s the original structure that was built in about 1870, after that there was this sort of concrete over-structure that was poured over, but over time you can see the concrete has severely worn away, and the timber crib structure has continued to rot and isn\u2019t as structurally sound,\u201d Crettol said.<\/p>\n
While the project is only in its design phase, the conservancy has plans to reconnect the Winooski River and get people into the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s multiple structures that really disconnect people from recreating in the rivers. We\u2019re looking into how to improve river access at this location and really create a stretch of river through Montpelier that\u2019s more easily accessible,\u201d Crettol said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have an ocean. We love to be able to kayak, float, canoe down the rivers, and reconnecting rivers; removing those barriers so we can do that safely is a really exciting thing,\u201d said Karina Dailey of the Vermont Natural Resources Council.<\/p>\n
The Vermont Natural Resources Council says encouraging the natural flow of the river could potentially bring tourists to Montpelier for the river, as well as mitigate flood risks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith reconnecting the river, we\u2019re restoring river health, and when we restore river health, that\u2019s for the whole community,\u201d Dailey said.<\/p>\n
This is the Vermont River Conservancy\u2019s first dam removal project, with some of the dams being owned by the city. The group has not yet obtained appropriate permits and funding for the project, which is estimated at several million dollars.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes time to plan these projects. You can\u2019t just jump in the river and knock down the dam,\u201d Dailey said.<\/p>\n
While the funding is still up in the air, the ideas are still flowing.<\/p>\n
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